Apple Faces Extended Delays for High-End Mac Mini and Mac Studio Models Amid Global Memory Shortage

Apple is currently facing substantial delays in delivering high-end configurations of its Mac mini and Mac Studio computers, with some models showing shipping estimates of up to five months. This situation is attributed to a global shortage of memory chips, which has impacted the availability of these devices.

For instance, the Mac mini equipped with an M4 Pro chip and 64GB of RAM is estimated to ship in 16–18 weeks in the U.S. Similarly, a Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip and 256GB of RAM is estimated to ship in 4–5 months. Even the base model Mac mini with 16GB of RAM has a one-month delay.

The global memory chip shortage is driven by surging demand from companies building AI servers that require large amounts of RAM. This has led to increased lead times for configure-to-order machines, as Apple faces the same shortages for RAM and storage that the whole compute industry is currently struggling with.

In response to these challenges, Apple has been investing in U.S. manufacturing. The company began producing advanced AI servers in Houston in 2025, and production is already ahead of schedule. Additionally, Apple plans to open a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston later this year to provide hands-on training in advanced manufacturing techniques.

Despite these efforts, the current supply constraints have led to significant delays for customers ordering high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio configurations. It remains to be seen how quickly Apple can address these issues and meet customer demand.